B529--Services - Central Institutional Review Board - VACO

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Regional Procurement Office East in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is soliciting services under solicitation number 36C24E26R0007 for the provision of Institutional Review Board Technical Support Services to support the VA Central Institutional Review Board, established to streamline regulatory approvals for multisite research funded by the Office of Research and Development. This is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a firm-fixed-price structure, carrying a maximum ceiling of $6,000,000 over a five-year base period and a guaranteed minimum of $10,000, with estimated total services valued at $5,000,000. The solicitation is exclusively set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) under NAICS code 541611 and utilizes Standard Form 1449. Offerors must submit a complete four-volume proposal electronically to michael.haydo@va.gov by 2:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with submissions adhering to strict formatting requirements including the use of Microsoft Office and Adobe software, approved fonts, and clear separation of proprietary information. Proposals must include signed SF-1449 forms, current SDVOSB certification, completed representational forms from SAM or ORCA, and both full and redacted technical proposals using an offeror code obtained by May 20, 2026. Two supporting attachments—Estimated Quantities and Price List (v3) and Past Performance Survey (V2)—are essential components. Evaluation for award will be based on four factors: Contract Forms and Administration, Technical Proposal, Past Performance, and Price, with the contract awarded to the offeror deemed most advantageous to the government, considering both price and non-price factors. Technical performance requires provision of a Project Management Plan within 30 days of award, semi-annual evaluation meetings, protocol review and administrative support for IRB submissions using the approved platform, generation of compliant meeting minutes, annual audits of 20 protocols, revision of SOPs and templates, and operation of the VA Central IRB toll-free line. Transition plans are required 30 days before contract start and 60 days before contract end. Key personnel must include a Program Manager with a Master’s degree and five years of research administration experience. Contractors must comply with stringent security and privacy provisions, including